The most recent FatCyclist.com fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation exceeded my expectations in a huge way. When we started the contest for this beautiful bike — an Orbea Orca with the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group and PRO components — I assumed we’d raise at least triple the amount the bike would retail for, but hoped we’d actually raise $50,000.

Instead, we raised more than $136,922. This is just phenomenal.

And then came my favorite part: giving the bike away. Out of nearly 30,000 chances, random.org selected #10,639 — which belonged to Team Fatty Philly Member Frank W, of New Jersey.

Frank will be riding in the Philadelphia LiveStrong Challenge this weekend. In fact, he was at the Team Fatty Philly training ride when my email notification arrived.

So, for the first time ever, I’ll get to meet one of the big contest winners! (I doubt the bike will have been shipped and built by then, so Frank will still be riding his old bike.)

Here’s what Frank had to say when he won the bike:

I almost fell off my chair when I read your email this morning. I must have read it 10 times and still can’t believe it! Thanks so much.

What can I say; I love cycling! From my childhood rides in Germany, to my frequent trips around the Jersey shore, I couldn’t imagine being without my ride. Being a graphics designer, I’m basically chained to a desk all day long and cycling is a great way to relieve some stress afterwards.

As most of you can relate, cancer has affected me in several ways. The disease claimed the life of my aunt and tried the same with my dad; but he kicked its butt!

I discovered Fatty’s blog about two years ago and he inspired me to get involved and to fight back. I look forward to the 100 mile ride in Philly next weekend.

And I will keep on fighting to beat cancer.

I love that someone who’s engaged in the fight against cancer and loves cycling won this bike, and I’m excited to hear about how much Frank loves his new dream bike.

Way to go Frank! I am SOOO looking forward to meeting all the Team Fatty people in Philly, even if I don’t get to do the ride (bike plane fare > 2x(my plane fare))… but I’ll be out there cheering (after my 5k)

On Sunday, just after the 70-mile pre-ride, Frank was referring to his current bike as a “Frankenbike.” His (soon-to-be) old bike is already a gorgeous baby (black Storck carbon frame, acquired secondhand from a Velonews editor) with brand new wheels.

Congrats to the highest-Qualität German-engineered rider on Team Fatty Philly.

from VelowNews.com:
Rebecca Rusch (Redbull-Specialized) won the women’s race in about 8:15.
She was not getting time splits on her position relative to the other women.
“I was pretending the guys were women and I got a scare near the end when I came up on a guy wearing pink,” she said.

I’m jealous of ya, Frank, but I gotta be honest: I knew the odds were stacked against me from the start. But who cares, look how much we all raised for this one contest? I’m feeling pretty good about being a part of that!

I think there must have been some mistake…I am SURE that I sent that ’special envelope’ to the people at random.org WEEKS ago…crap…thats 2$ I probably won’t ever see again!

Anyway…way to go Frank…everybody is jealous I can assure you. And so I continue looking for a new bike frame…that I will actually have to BUY! ACK!!! That stinks. Such is life…you should go ahead and sign up for Austin and come over…hopefully you will have the bike by then so we can all oogle and drool over it. Lucky dude…that is SO cool..and WAY TO GO FATTY to come UP with this…it was the most amazing raffle/giveaway I’ve ever seen! And did it ever KICK BUTT for the LAF!!! You are THE MAN (as always)!

Hmmm… This Frank guy sounds like a foreigner. i thought this was only open to natural born citizens of the US. I’m afraid until we see actual proof of his citizenship via an actual birth certificate (and not one of those fake ones that our current President has shown), the bike will have to remain in a true American citizens garage (namely mine).

Please let me know where I can pick up this bike for safe storage until Frank can come up with the correct paperwork.

Wish I could join my Philly teammates for the ride, but alas, I am stuck in the middle of the continent.

Just because of all that stuff in the news recently, and just because the guy who won the Gary Fisher Single Fly a while back, and the guy who won the Orbea are from New Jersey – don’t go thinking something fishy is going on ;P
Congrats on the win, Frank. Ride it like you stole it!

Good point Onan, not ONE of President Obama’s so-called ‘birth certificates’ convinces me that Frank is eligible to win the bike. But, because I’m highly gracious, I decline to demand a recount of the random numbers.